Armed men have abducted several people from an upscale restaurant in the popular Mexican beach resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Two SUVs carrying an unknown number of gunmen arrived at the restaurant on the city's main boulevard, which runs through the hotel zone, at around 1am on Monday morning, prosecutors in the western state of Jalisco said.

The Jalisco prosecutors' office said in a statement that it was still investigating. Five vehicles were abandoned at the restaurant, but it was unclear whether they belonged to any of the victims or attackers.

Mexican media reports say as many as 16 people were abducted, but authorities did not immediately confirm the number.

AP

Jalisco governor Aristoteles Sandoval said through his official Twitter account that such violence would not be tolerated and a search was under way for the victims and kidnappers from the La Leche restaurant.

"To the residents and tourists of Puerto Vallarta, I inform you that we have reinforced security so that you can go on as usual," Mr Sandoval wrote.